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weeks, nor probably so soon; and I will keep back the title-page, for such an insertion as you seem to promise me. Be pleased to let me know what money I shall send you, for bearing the expence of the affair; and I will take care that you may have it ready at your hand.

"I had lately the favour of a letter from your brother, with some account of poor Collins, for whom I am much concerned. I have a notion, that by very great temperance, or more properly abstinence, he may yet recover.

"There is an old English and Latin book of poems by Barclay, called "The Ship of Fools;" at the end of which are a number of Eglogues; so he writes it from Egloga, which are probably the first in our language. If you cannot find the book, I will get Mr. Dodsley to send it you.

"I shall be extremely glad to hear from you again, to know, if the affair proceeds. I have mentioned it to noue of my friends, for fear of being laughed at for my disappointment.

"You know poor Mr. Dodsley has lost his wife; I believe he is much affected. I hope he will not suffer so much as I yet suffer for the loss of mine.',

Οἴμο : τι δ' οἴμοι ; θνητὰ γὰρ πεπόνθαμεν.

I have ever since seemed to myself broken off from mankind; a kind of solitary wanderer in the wild of life, without any direction, or fixed point of view a gloomy gazer on the world to which I have little relation. Yet I would endeavour, by the help of you and your brother, to supply the want of closer union, by friendship and hope to have long the pleasure of being, dear Sir, "Most affectionately your's, "[London,] Dec. 21, 1754.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

In 1755 we behold him to great advantage; his degree of Master of rts conferred upon him, his Dictionary published, his correspondence animated, his benevolence exercised.

"TO THE REVEREND MR. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR,

1

"I WROTE to you some weeks ago, but believe did not direct accurately, and therefore know not whether you had my letter. would, likewise, write to your brother, but know not where to find him. I now begin to see land, after having wandered, according to Mr. Warburton's phrase, in this vast sea of words. What reception I shall meet with on the shore, I know not; whether the sound of bells, and acclamations of the people, which Ariosto talks of in his last Canto, or a a general murmur of dislike, I know not: whether I shall find upon the coast a Calypso that will court, or a Polypheme that will resist. But if Polypheme comes, have at his eye. I hope, however, the critics will let me be at peace; for though I do not much fear their skill and strength, I am a little afraid of myself, and would not willingly feel so much ill-will in my bosom as literary quarrels are apt to excite.

"Of the degree at Oxford."

"Mr. Baretti is about a work for which he is in great want of Crescimbeni, which you may have again when you please.

"There is nothing considerable done or doing among us here. We are not, perhaps, as innocent as villagers, but most of us seem to be as idle. I hope, however, you are busy; and should be glad to know what you are doing. "I am, dearest Sir,

"[London,] Feb. 4, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,

"Your humble servant,

"SAM. JOHNSON."

To THE SAME.

"I RECEIVED your letter this day, with great sense of the favour that has been done me; for which I return my most sincere thanks: and entreat you to pay to Mr. Wise such returns as I ought to make for so much kindness so little deserved.

"I sent Mr. Wise the Lexicon, and afterwards wrote to him; but know not whether he had either the book or letter. Be so good as to contrive to enquire.

"But why does my dear Mr. Warton tell me nothing of himself? Where hangs the new volume? Can I help? Let not the past labour be lost, for want of a little more; but snatch what time you can from the Hall, and the pupils, and the coffee-house, and the parks, and complete your design. "I am, dear Sir, &c.

"[London,] Feb. 4, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,

To THE SAME.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

"I HAD a letter last week from Mr. Wise, but have yet heard nothing from you, nor know in what state my affair§ stands; of which I beg you to inform me, if you can, to-morrow, by the return of the post.

"Mr. Wise sends me word, that he as not had the Finnick Lexicon yet, which I sent some time ago; and if he has not, you must enquire after it. However, do not let your letter stay for that.

"Your brother, who is a better correspondent than you, and not much better, sends me word, that your pupils keep you in College: but do they keep you from writing too? Let them, at least, give you time to write to, dear Sir, "Your most affectionate, &c.

"[London,] Feb. 13, 1755.

"DEAR SIR,

TO THE SAME.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

“DR. KING¶ was with me a few minutes before your letter; this, however, is the first instance in which your kind intentions to me have

"His degree had now past, according to the usual form, the suffrages of the heads of Colleges; but was not yet finally granted by the University. It was carried without a single dissentient voice.

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"Principal of Saint Mary Hall at Oxford. He brought with him the diploma from Oxford."

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ever been frustrated. I have now the full effect of your care and benevolence; and am far from thinking it a slight honour, or a small advantage; since it will put the enjoyment of your conversation more frequently in the power of, dear Sir,

"Your most obliged and affectionate,
"SAM. JOHNSON."

"P. S. I have enclosed a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, which you will read; and if you like it, seal and give him.

"[London,] Feb. 1755."

As the Public will doubtless be pleased to see the whole progress of this well-earned academical honour. I shall insert the Chancellor of Oxford's letter to the University,§ the diploma, and Johnson's letter of thanks to the Vice-Chancellor.

"To the Reverend Dr. HUDDESFORD, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford; to be communicated to the Heads of Houses, and proposed in Convocation.

"MR. VICE-CHANCELLOR, AND GENTLEMEN.

"MR. SAMUEL JOHNSON, who was formerly of Pembroke College, having very eminently distinguished himself by the publication of a series of Essays, excellently calculated to form the manners of the people, and in which the cause of religion and morality is every where maintained by the strongest powers of argument and language; and who shortly intends to publish a Dictionary of the English Tongue formed on a new plan, and executed with the greatest labour and judgement; 1 persuade myself that I shall act agreeable to the sentiments of the whole University, in desiring that it may be proposed in convocation to confer on him the degree of Master of Arts by diploma, to which I readily give my consent; and am,

"Mr. Vice-Chancellor, and Gentlemen,
"Your affectionate friend and servant,

"Grosvenor-street, Feb. 4, 1755.

"ARRAN."

Term. Scti.
Hilarii.

"DIPLOMA MAGISTRI JOHNSON.

1755.

"CANCELLARIUS, Magistri et Scholares Universitatis Oxoniensis omnibus ad quos hoc presens scriptum pervenerit, salutem in Domino sempiternam.

"Cùm eum in finem gradus academici à majoribus nostris instituti fuerint, ut viri ingenio et doctrinâ præstantes titulis quoque præter caeteros insignirentur; cùmque vir doctissimus Samuel Johnson è Collegio Pembrochiensi, scriptis suis popularium mores informantibus dudum

"I suppose Johnson means that my kind intention of being the first to give him the good news of the degree being granted was frustrated, because Dr. King brought it before my intelligence arrived."

|| "Dr. Huddesford, President of Trinity College."
§ Extracted from the Convocation-Register, Oxford.

literato orbi innotuerit; quin et linguæ patriæ tum ornandae tum stabilienda (Lexicon scilicet Anglicanum summo studio, summo à se judicio congestum propediem editurus) etiam nunc utilissimam impendat operam ; Nos igitur Cancellarius, Magistri, et Scholares antedicti, nè virum de literis humanioribus optimè meritum diutius inhonoratum prætereamus, in solenni Convocatione Doctorum, Magistrorum, Regentium, et non Regentium, decimo die Mensis Februarii Anno Domini Millesimo Septingentesimo Quinquagesimo quinto habitá, præfatum virum Samuelem Johnson (conspirantibus omnium suffragiis) Magistrum in Artibus renunciavimus et constituimus; eumque, virtute præsentis diplomatis, singulis juribus privilegiis et honoribus ad istum gradum quàquà pertinentibus frui et gaudere jussimus.

"In cujus rei testimonium sigillum Universitatis Oxoniensis præsentibus apponi fecimus,

"Datum in Domo nostræ Convocationis die 20° Mensis Feb. Anno Dom. prædicto.

"Diploma supra scriptum per Registrarium lectum erat, et ex decreto venerabilis Domûs communi Universitatis sigillo munitum.”

"Londini, 4to. Cal. Mart. 1755. HUDDESFORD, S. T. P. UNIVERSITATIS OXONIENSIS VICE-CHANCELLARIO DIGNISSIMO, S. P. D.

"VIRO REVERENDO

SAM. JOHNSON.

INGRATUS planè et tibi et mihi videar, nisi quanto me gaudio affecerint, quos nuper mihi honores (te, credo, auctore,) decrevit Senatus Academicus, literarum, quo tamen nihil levius, officio, significem: ingratus etiam, nisi comitatem, quá vir eximius mihi vestri testimonium amoris in manus tradidit, agnoscam et laudem. Si quid est, undè rei tam grate accedat gratia, hoc ipso magis mihi placet, quod eo tempore in ordines Academicos denuò cooptatus sim, quo tuam imminuere auctoritatem famamque Oxonii lædere, omnibus modis conantur homines vafri, nec tamen acuti: quibus ego, prout viro umbratico licuit, semper restiti, semper restiturus. Qui enim, inter has rerum procellas, vel tibi vel Academiæ defuerit, illum virtuti et literis, sibique et posteris, defuturum existimo. Vale.

"TO THE REVEREND MR. THOMAS WARTON. "DEAR SIR,

"AFTER I received my diploma, I wrote you a letter of thanks, with a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, and sent another to Mr. Wise; but have heard from nobody since, and begin to think myself forgotten. It is true, I sent you a double letter, and you fear an expensive correspondent; but I would have taken it kindly, if you had returned it treble; and what is a double letter to a petty king, that having fellowship and fines, can sleep without a Modus in his head ?||

We may conceive what a high gratification it must have been to Johnson to receive his diploma from the hands of the great Dr. King, whose principles were so congenial with his own.

"The Words in Italics are allusions to passages in Mr. Warton's poem, called 'The PROGRESS of DISCONTENT,' now lately published."

"Dear Mr. Warton, let me hear from you, and tell me something, I care not what, so I hear it but from you. Something, I will tell you -I hope to see my Dictionary bound and lettered, next week ;—vastâ mole superbus. And I have a great mind to come to Oxford at Easter; but will not invite me. Shall I come uninvited, or stay here where nobody perhaps would miss me if I went? A hard choice! But such is the world to, dear Sir, "Yours, &c. "[London,] March 20,

you

1755.

TO THE SAME.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

"DEAR SIR,

"THOUGH not to write, when a man can write so well, is an offence sufficiently heinous, yet I shall pass it by. I am very glad that the ViceChancellor was pleased with my note. I shall impatiently expect you at London, that we may consider what to do next. I intend in the winter to open a Bibliotheque, and remember, that you are to subscribe a sheet a year let us try, likewise, if we cannot persuade your brother to subscribe another My book is now coming in luminis oras. What will be its fate I know not, nor think much, because thinking is to no purpose. It must stand the censure of the great vulgar and the small; of those that understand it, and that understand it not. But in all this, I suffer not alone; every writer has the same difficulties, and, perhaps, every writer talks of them more than he thinks,

"You will be pleased to make my compliments to all my friends; and be so kind, at every idle hour, as to remember, dear Sir,

"[London,] March 25, 1755.

"Yours, &c.

"SAM. JOHNSON."

Dr. Adams told me, that this scheme of a Bibliotheque was a serious one for upon his visiting him one day, he found his parlour floor covered with parcels of foreign and English literary Journals, and he told Dr. Adams he meant to undertake a Review. "How, Sir, (said Dr. Adams,} can you think of doing it alone? All branches of knowledge must be considered in it. Do you know Mathematics? Do you know Natural History?" Johnson answered, "Why, Sir, I must do as well as I can. My chief purpose is to give my countrymen a view of what is doing in literature upon the continent; and I shall have, in a good measure, the choice of my subject, for I shall select such books as I understand,” Dr. Adams suggested, that as Dr. Maty had just then finished his Bibliotheque Britannique, which was a well executed work, giving foreigners an account of British publications, he might, with great advantage, assume him as an assistant. "He, (said Johnson) the little black dog! I'd throw him into the Thames." The scheme, however, was dropped.

In one of his little memorandum-books I find the following hints for his intended Review or Literary Journal: "The Annals of Literature, foreign as well as domestic. Imitate Le Clerc-Bayle-Barbeyrac. Infelicity of Journals in England. "Works of the learned." cannot take in all. Sometimes copy from foreign Journals. Always tell."

We

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